Chapter 22
Chapter 22:
“If you ever,” Gaston said, his voice carrying the full length of the silent hallway, “and I mean ever, come within ten feet of my wife again, I will short your stock until it’s delisted. I will buy your debt and foreclose on your future. You will not know who did it or why — but you will know that it started tonight p>
He turned back to Jocelyn.
He didn’t ask if she could walk. He scooped her up into his arms, lifting her as easily as if she weighed nothing at all.
“We’re leaving,” he said.
He carried her past the stunned bouncers, past a pale-faced Anny and Aspen, and out into the cool night air.
The elevator ride up to the penthouse was silent. Gaston didn’t set her down until they were inside his apartment.
He placed her gently on the oversized velvet sofa in the living room.
“I’ll get the first aid kit,” he said. His voice was calm again — a tight, controlled calm.
𝗕𝘦 𝘵𝗵𝗲 f𝗶𝗿𝘴𝘁 to 𝗿ea𝗱 𝗈𝗻 𝗀а𝗅𝗇𝗼vе𝗅𝘀.с𝗈𝗆
Jocelyn watched him walk away. She pulled his jacket tighter around herself.
When he returned, he carried a box of supplies and sat down on the coffee table in front of her. He took her hand and carefully examined the red marks on her wrist where Kieran had grabbed her.
“Gaston,” Jocelyn whispered.
He didn’t look up. “Yes p>
“That man at the club. The drunk one p>
Gaston paused. “Yes p>
“That was Babe Vincent p>
“Yes p>
“So…” Jocelyn swallowed. “You’re not Babe Vincent p>
Gaston finished applying a soothing cream to her wrist and finally looked up. His dark eyes were unreadable, like deep water.
“No,” he said. “I am not p>
“Then who are you?” Her voice trembled. “I married you. I signed a legal document with you. Who are you p>
He held her gaze, a flicker of something — regret, frustration — passing through his eyes. “My name is Gaston,” he said, deliberately omitting the rest. “The name on the certificate was real. You just assumed p>
The name hung in the air between them.
Jocelyn frowned. “Gaston what? Smith? Jones? I don’t understand p>
“It doesn’t matter,” he said, his tone firm, closing off the question. “What matters is that you’re safe p>
“Why?” Her voice rose. “Why did you pretend? Why this whole charade? Why marry me p>
“Because you needed a husband,” Gaston said simply. “And I needed a distraction p>
“A distraction?” A flash of anger crossed her face. “A cover? For your real life? Is that what I am? A shield to keep your family off your back p>
“No,” he said sharply. He reached out and cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear she hadn’t realized had fallen. “You are my wife. And right now, you are a woman who was assaulted p>
Jocelyn leaned into his touch despite herself. She was confused, angry, and exhausted — but above all, she felt safe. She also felt a flicker of something like pity. He was trapped too, in his own way, forced into this sham marriage to hide who he truly was.
Her phone buzzed on the cushion beside her.
Elouise: Where the hell are you? The Vincents are here. If you aren’t here in 10 minutes, I’m freezing the accounts.